Delivery

Carrier Pickup for Returns

Effective July 21, 2008, the Carrier Pickup™ pro­gram is being expanded to include Merchandise Return Service (MRS) and Parcel Return Service (PRS) packages. This expansion meets the need of our merchants and ship­pers, as well as consumers, who value the convenience of using the Postal Service™.

Customers will now be able to use USPS.com^® to schedule a pickup for MRS and PRS packages. Customers will not be required to have an expedited or international package to use this enhancement to the Carrier Pickup program.

Package returns present a growth opportunity for the Postal Service. Expanding Carrier Pickup service provides convenience for merchants and consumers in various ways:

• Returns. As Internet shopping continues to grow, consumers can request Carrier Pickup service for items when merchants provide them with labels for MRS and PRS.
• Recycles. Consumers concerned about the environ­ment will find it more convenient to recycle old cell phones, MP-3 players, ink-jet cartridges, and other small electronic devices using these services.
• Recalls. Consumers can use Carrier Pickup service in the event of a recall of products that meet the size and weight criteria for mailing when manufacturers provide MRS and PRS labels.
• Repairs. Consumers may have items that need to be sent to a facility for repair using MRS or PRS.

The Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits America’s 146 million home and business addresses every day. Nobody in the industry can take a package out of the household as efficiently and effectively as we can. Our let­ter carriers have told us that they leave the station with a full truck and they want to come back with a full truck. Expand­ing the Carrier Pickup program to include return packages will increase volume and revenue for the Postal Service and job security for postal employees.

— Ground Packages,
Shipping and Mailing Services, 7-17-08